Motown music was on heavy rotation during our Great Michigan Road Trip in preparation for our final stop: Detroit. With a great variety of museums to choose from in the city, I felt it was essential to visit the Motown Museum. But, there are a few things to keep in mind before taking your family there.

Disclosure: Our visit was hosted by Visit Detroit. All thoughts, opinions and typos are my own.

Before you go to Motown Museum

Really, there are just two things I suggest doing before you go:

1. Book the tour. You can’t peek inside the museum, AKA Hitsville USA, without a taking the one-hour tour. So, you’ll need to buy your tour tickets for a specific day and time in advance.

There’s always the option of trying to walk up and buy tickets the day of, but when we were there, we saw people turned away. Don’t risk it if this museum is important to you.

2. Listen to the music. This was my favorite way to introduce the kids to the people and music they would be learning about.

You can see where Motown began at the Motown Museum in Detroit. Photo courtesy Visit Detroit

What to expect at the Motown Museum

You’ll want to be prompt for your timed tour. You’ll meet your tour guide and learn the rules. The big one? No pictures.

Most of the time. I’ll get to that exception in a second.

The tour takes you through Barry Gordy Jr.’s flat, past displays of gold records, costumes, and historic photos. We heard inside stories about artists who passed through the studio, like how Stevie Wonder was just a kid and there was a rule about not switching out the order of the candy in the vending machine so he’d always be able to buy the candy he wanted on his own.

The highlight for me? Standing in the Studio A. It was, like, goosebumps special. Our guide talked about recording artists who were inspired by Motown greats visiting and weeping when they entered the studio.

The Temptations, The Supremes and many other famous Motown artists recorded hit songs in Studio A. Visitors to the Motown Museum visit the studio during the tour.

It’s fascinating to hear the stories of who recorded there, and to know which songs were recorded in that very space. This was the lone place where we could take pictures. We all sang “My Girl,” and for me, it was a pinch-me moment.

What ages are best for Motown Museum?

The Motown Museum is packed with insight and history into Barry Gordy, and the musicians and songs behind Motown Records. There’s nothing on display that is inappropriate or over a kid’s head necessarily. However, it’s not for all ages due to the tour structure.

One of my kids managed better on the guided tour than the other…but both insisted on getting Motown Museum T-shirts, so I guess it did make an impression on both.

Motown Museum was not a good one for my 6-year-old. The tour goes through a home and rather than having free reign to roam, your tour group follows the guide room-to-room, and there’s no lingering or moving ahead if your little one gets bored. That was tough for my daughter.

My daughter was overly tired and wanted to sit at each tour stop while the tour guide talked. There also aren’t many places to sit, except for when we sat to watch the short documentary before taking the tour.

Which leads to the other problem for my youngest: She’s not into documentaries. Go figure. That was the longest couple of minutes ever.

My son is slightly older and no problem with anything on the tours, besides not having a good sense of timelines and social significances of certain songs or people.

If you go

Motown Museum

Where: 2648 W. Grand Blvd, Detroit, Mich.

Cost: Tickets in 2018 are $15 for adults, $10 for children, and FREE for children ages 4 and younger. Tickets for tours are first come, first served and often sell out, especially on Saturdays. Tickets can be purchased up to 21 days in advance online. Tours are about an hour long. Here’s the link for tickets, and hours, as well.

News to note: The museum has launched a campaign for a $50 million expansion. There was no construction going on when we visited nor have I read when that may begin, but I’d recommend checking on construction plans if and when you plan to visit, just in case.

Read more about things to do in Detroit

Planning a visit to Detroit? Start with the Detroit Bucket List, and then check out these posts for further details about different Detroit museums:

Detroit was the final stop on our epic Michigan road trip this summer. While most of the trip was dedicated to outdoor pursuits, Detroit was going to be our chance to explore museums like The Henry Ford and historic sites like the Motown Museum. So, the question was: Where do we stay in Detroit?

The Detroit skyline. Photo courtesy Visit Detroit

Disclosure: Our stay was hosted by Visit Detroit. All thoughts, opinions and typos are my own.

Detroit is HUGE. It’s more than 140 square miles in size, and I read one account stating you could fit Boston, Manhattan, and San Francisco inside the city limits. The places we wanted to visit were spread out, too. Motown Museum, Detroit Arts Institute and Michigan Science Center are downtown, while The Henry Ford and Greenfield Village are in Dearborn. Add to that the other sites I had hoped to fit in (check out my Detroit Bucket List for all of them), and I was in a conundrum.

Fairfield Inn & Suites in Troy

We ended up staying at the Fairfield Inn & Suites located in Troy, a suburb of Detroit. It’s much closer to the Detroit Zoo, which we were considering visiting, than downtown hotels. It was not super close to The Henry Ford or the downtown attractions. If you hate interstates, you’re going to have a rough go trying to get to attractions.

The chic lobby of the Fairfield Inn & Suites in Troy, Michigan, located just north of Detroit.

And side note, unfortunately, is that it’s pretty convenient to Beaumont Hospital in Troy. Long story, but we had a member of our admitted into the hospital while we were there.

What to expect at the Fairfield Inn in Troy

Fairfield Inn & Suites is a familiar Marriott chain for my family. We appreciate the complimentary hot breakfast each morning and pool at each hotel we stay in.

The complimentary breakfast at Fairfield Inn & Suites is always a popular perk. The location in Troy, Michigan, had plenty of seating.

This particular location had all the amenities you’d expect at a Fairfield, from the modern lobby, comfortable beds, and large bathrooms. The staff was incredibly helpful, especially when I was on a hunt for a cell phone charger one night.

Our room had two queen beds, which is a good size for a family of four with small kids.

The location of this hotel wasn’t ideal for our needs, though, like I wrote earlier, it was at least close to the hospital (not something a vacationing family really wants to ever visit). It was near the interstate, which is helpful when navigating this big city.

My complaints for the hotel were not for the hotel itself but it’s location. I had limited options for non-chain restaurants, and nor as it easy to find interesting, locally-owned shops. But if you’re a Target fan or need to run to a mall, those are both nearby.

Read more about things to do in Detroit

Planning a visit to Detroit? Start with the Detroit Bucket List, and then check out these posts for further details about Detroit museums:

We visited one zoo during our great Michigan Road Trip – the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids. It was a great zoo for animal interaction and adrenaline adventure (for an added fee). I wouldn’t typically say zoos have adventure (well, there was that one time in Florida), but this place was a blast.

Disclosure: Our visit was hosted by Experience Grand Rapids, though the add-on experiences were at not complimentary. All thoughts, opinions and typos are my own.

The zoo is in a pretty setting, wooded with plenty of shade. It’s smallish, so families can visit for the afternoon and not be exhausted afterward.

A waterfall at the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, Mich.

My caveat: I’m pretty spoiled with the Omaha zoo, so I didn’t seek out a lot of the animal exhibits. Instead, I sought unique zoo experiences I can’t find in Omaha.

Favorite Extra: Bird Show

My kids’ favorite part of the zoo, and, fine, MY favorite part, was the Realm of Flight Bird Show. It was only $2 extra per person and worth it. If you visit on a weekday, it is free.

The audience learned about 10 birds through demonstrations during the Realm of Flight Bird Show at the John Ball Zoo.

As part of the show, keepers introduced different species and we watched them in flight. Some were trained to do tricks, which delighted kids. Adult volunteers were included in the show, too, and I was called up to play the part. No bird landed on me, I just had to place a can on a side table.

At the end, families could get their pictures taken beside the bald eagle and donate money to the zoo by handing a macaw a dollar bill.

Ropes Course at John Ball Zoo

Until recently when the Venture Parks exhibits opened, there were no ropes courses in Nebraska, so I’m all for trying them out on vacation. In Grand Rapids, the zoo has a pretty stellar, four-story ropes course for families.

It is a big extra cost to do it, but if you’re an adventure-loving family, how can you not? It’s a course in a pretty space in the zoo, treetops and greenery.

Kids need to be at minimum age and weight to do it. My daughter was all talk about it, but then when we got out on the course, she froze up. Be extra sure your kiddos are ready for it before spending the money to take them on it.

Ziplining at the zoo

Following the nervousness my youngest had on the ropes course, I figured I should just do the zipline alone.

All set to zipline through the zoo.

It’s pretty tame for a zipline course—just two lines and not too fast—but the cool thing is that they go right through the zoo.

You can buy combo tickets to save money on both the ropes course and ziplines.

More things to see at the zoo

We tried a few other add-ons, including the Budgie Aviary, where for $1 you feed birds with a stick dipped in peanut butter and covered in seed.

Feeding a budgie, or parakeet, at the Grand Rapids zoo.

There’s also a funicular ride in the zoo. For $3, it takes you the highest point in the zoo – saving you the walk up the hill.

The funicular at John Ball Zoo takes passengers to the highest point in the zoo, making it an all-downhill walk from there.

So, you’re probably wondering about animals exhibits. We stuck to a lot of hands-on things on this trip. However, one of the more unique exhibits to check out is the Wild Way Trail. It’s a trail with animal exhibits dependent on weather, but the neat thing is that it incorporates ways for kids to try to move like the animals (climbing and crawling, for example). There a wallabies, lemurs, parrots and howler monkeys along this wooded path.

Playing in the TreeTops Outpost at the John Ball Zoo.

There are also fun play areas. One’s a natural play area where kids can get their hands dirty playing with sticks and stuff. The other, the TreeTops Outpost, is more about climbing and feeling adventurous. My kids loved it.

More about Grand Rapids

48 Hours In Grand Rapids With Kids

Grand Rapids was the first stop of an epic road trip adventure through Michigan (more on that to come). To plan your own epic road trip through Michigan, I’ll be sharing a road trip recap soon featuring restaurant highlights, sights to see, and where to stay. You can start planning now with this ultimate Michigan Bucket List.

Our summer road trip through Michigan was mostly in cities, except for the night in Alanson, a small town near Petoskey. Our stay at the Stafford’s Crooked River Lodge was unique to the trip. It was our one night in nature without really being too far into nature. Let me explain.

Where is Stafford’s Crooked River Lodge

If you’re familiar with the Petoskey Area/Little Traverse Bay Region, you may have heard of Stafford’s Perry Hotel, the historic hotel in Petoskey. Owned by the same folks, Crooked River Lodge is outside of town on the Crooked River, about 10 miles away from Petoskey. And it looks like a lodge. The name suits it.

Dusk at Stafford’s Crooked River Lodge in northern Michigan. Shortly after I took this picture, staff made a fire in the hotel’s fire pit.

And the Petoskey Area, if you’re unfamiliar with the state of Michigan, is up in the northern part of the lower peninsula. Here’s a post about things to do in the Petoskey Area with kids to give you a better idea of the area.

Highlights of Stafford’s Crooked River Lodge

Stafford’s Crooked River Lodge is essentially a place to get away from it all without really needing to go too far away from “it all.” It feels secluded without being too far from conveniences like restaurants and craft brewery.

The entrance to Stafford’s Crooked River Lodge has a popcorn machine, which may have been the highlight of the entire stay for my daughter. Off to the right in this picture, below the stairs (you can’t see it) is a little playhouse for kids. That would be the second favorite thing at the hotel for my daughter.

The hospitality of the hotel was great. You’re greeted by staff as you walk in, and as you check in, my kids will point out that there is a conveniently located popcorn machine to help yourself to.

The waterfall in the Crooked River Lodge pool area impressed the kids. You can’t see it, but there’s a little tunnel to walk behind the waterfall.

This place is definitely a great one for families in that sense. From a pool (with a little waterfall) and hot tub, to the darling little clubhouse in the lobby, you can tell they welcome kids. There’s also a pool table.

A big draw to me was the location. Had we more time, we would’ve paddled along the Crooked River with the kids. The hotel provides complimentary kayaks and paddle boats. There’s a nearby trail, as well, among other things to do.

We didn’t get a chance to check it out, but there is also a fish pond where you can feed the fish.

The view of the lawn at Stafford’s Crooked River Lodge. Just beyond the lawn is the river.

If you wanted to just sit outside and enjoy nature, this is good place to so. Try it by the fire pit.

Or try doing it from your private balcony.

Speaking of that…

The rooms at Stafford’s Crooked River Lodge

The rooms at Stafford’s Crooked River Lodge range from standard hotel rooms to suites. And if you’ve been traveling in a car for miles and miles with your family, it’s rather nice to have one of those suites to spread out in.

The faux wood lamp in our hotel suite’s living room.

Our room was two rooms with two king beds. There’s a kitchenette, which is great for longer stays, plus as I mentioned above, a private balcony. The balconies all look toward the great lawn and river.

The balcony at Stafford’s Crooked River Lodge is a nice place to sip coffee in the morning (or a glass of wine in the evening).

They’re meant to feel like your own private cabin, I suspect. Ours did, at least, with rustic décor and all.

The Henry Ford is a large museum outside of Detroit full of artifacts and exhibits about America’s history and innovation. It’s a huge, three-building complex. I was a tad overwhelmed when I planned a visit during my family’s great Michigan road trip, to be honest. To save you a little worry, here are some things to know before your visit.

Disclosure: I received complimentary admission to The Henry Ford as part of a hosted visit through Visit Detroit.All thoughts, opinions and typos are my own.

A mill at Greenfield Village, an outdoor living history space with seven areas to explore. It’s part of The Henry Ford complex.

History is the focus at The Henry Ford, but not in such a narrowly defined experience as “history museum.” This places feels alive. I’ve never been to anything quite like The Henry Ford. It’s not just cars and transportation. Innovation, mathematics, and a fun display on pop culture through generations are all a part of the museum.

The Henry Ford had artifacts from various eras in American history. The blue railcar behind the signs is a restaurant.

Greenfield Village is an epic living history experience with actors, landmark buildings, and cool experiences like riding in a Model T.

I loved the picturesque Main Street at Greenfield Village. Guests can pay a little extra to ride around in in a Model T.

The factory is the lone place we missed on this visit. There just wasn’t enough time.

How much time do you need at The Henry Ford

It’s going to depend on your family. We split our visit between Greenfield Village and The Henry Ford. Our visit was in the summer, so we chose to go to Greenfield Village the first thing in the morning.

We peeked in a jewelry store at Greenfield Village.

We last until lunch time before the heat was too much. We had spent about three hours at Greenfield Village, which was not adequate to see everything. It did allow a decent amount of time for playing at the playground, so factor that into your planning if you have young kids.

There’s a large exhibit about flight at The Henry Ford. There’s an area to make your own paper airplane and then test them out.

The Henry Ford was where we spent the bulk of our day, and I feel like we got a good look at everything that interested us in the hours we wandered around there.

What will kids like at The Henry Ford?

This is totally going to be just my opinion. What’s interests your kids could be quite different from mine.

Greenfield Village is divided into seven districts. My favorite was Main Street, with its shops and lawn games.

Don’t skip the Wright Cycle Shop (the actual place where the Wright Brothers dreamt up their flying machines), the playground, and watching artisans in action (including glass-blowing, weaving, and pottery).

There’s also working farms, a steam locomotive, and a ton more historic buildings (obviously). We missed Thomas Edison’s lab and I imagine that was a mistake. I was hot and wanted out of the summer sun, please forgive me.

The Henry Ford has so many stellar artifacts that bring American history to life. We got to sit on the same bus that Rosa Parks protested on, and pose in a Model T. If you love cars, trains, agriculture, history, or design, this is your kind of place.

In “Made In America: Manufacturing,” the kids and I joined an assembly line to make cars. It was a fun way to learn about manufacturing for the kids.

Being at the museum with kids, though, I’d have to say the more hands-on an exhibit was, the more they liked it. The “Heroes In The Sky” exhibit had a space for kids to make model airplanes and test them, for instance. “Made In America: Manufacturing” was another good one – we participated in an assembly line to build toy model Ts. And if you have a train fanatic, there is a miniature railroad to watch.

Tips from a parent

Resting in the women’s suffrage exhibit jail.

– Bring a stroller or wagon if you have young kids. The complex is huge.

– You park at one place and can get to the museum and Greenfield Village by foot.

– You can bring a small amount of food and drinks with you. You’ll definitely want water bottles. There are restaurant options in the complex. Some restaurants have themes to them, which is fun, but I was a little underwhelmed with our experience at the 1940s diner called Lamy’s Diner.

– The frozen custard at Greenfield Village is to die for.

– There’s a playground at Greenfield Village by the carousel. It’s a lot of fun for them, though a little word of warning, they can get a little wet there.

– There aren’t a whole lot of buildings with air conditioning at Greenfield Village (you’ve got to love authentic history, right?). Cool off in the gift shop.

– Plan on spending a little extra. My kids loved riding the train, for instance, but it’s extra, as is the Model T rides.

– It helps to know when demonstrations begin in Greenfield Village. And then, if you’re like me, disregard those times and just try to keep up with your kids.

Greenfield Village is a seasonal attraction, so know that it’s closed from Jan. 1 through April 14.

Hi there, I’m Kim

I'm a mom, wife, writer & coffee addict. I love my hometown, Omaha, but cannot resist the thrill of travel. Life is best spent discovering the extraordinary at home and on the road. With any luck, I'll inspire you to think the same. Inquiries at ohmyomaha@gmail.com

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